New to Webdesign and needing help with basics and PHP and more...

freedomwatchdog

Greetings to all!

Although I have been watching the different posts and learning quite a bit, there are still a few of us that don't know where to begin.

This is my first post after over 100 days of watching. I have come to the conclusion that if a person does not understant the very basic principles of webdesign or PHP, we need either a mentor, a good interactive tutorial or we need to hire a webmaster than can put it all together for us.

Let me cut to the chase: After being an architectural designer and home-builder for over 20 years, My health forced me to close a successful business and has now placed me squarely in front of my computer to find a new career at the age of 53! 🙁

I have been wanting to start my own online business since this happened in 2000. I have joined every imaginable affiliate program and then sent a number of emails to small few to try to make a go of this vehicle called the internet. However, since I have no opt-in website to increase my email list, I am chasig the wind. :bemused

I tried my hand at simple template sites but to no avail. To see my sad talent see My Website Freedom Site This is an example of a lousy site, but I must proceed and do it again, but with a totally different topic.

I am seeking members who are interested in making a few bucks and want to give a try at creating a website for me. I like the PHP scripting tool and many of the new an unique utilities and methods that can be the difference between mediocre and professional site. I also need to make sure it is easily found!

If anyone out there has suggestions on a better way to either learn this from square one through your own website, or would like to jump right in and do one for me, I'd be glad to delegate this task to one that has already mastered websites and can use PHP to enhance it. I need guidance and someone who likes a challenge.

My site is going to be one of a kind.... I would like to think that it will be the next "Amazon" as far as popularity : :rolleyes:

It will be a do-it-yourself site where anyone can actually build their own home without hiring a contractor and saving tens of thousands of dollars that will cost a few dollars to join and allows the member to build their own home (or even make a home repair) while only spending a few hours per week online to us and a few hours at the project when needed. It is something I have been working on since 1980 and have it all in my head (That's a lousy place to store files huh?) I use what is called "critical path methodoligy" which can be done and displayed in a website forum.

The potential to have others participate (customers and service providers alike) and to make money is awesome. Imagine how many service providers, from architecrts, to permitting services, to lenders, to masons, to carpenters, delegated overseers, clean-up crews and even the porta-pottie company... Just think of all that it takes to build a home and then think of all that goes into it!

I think that this can be incorporated into an easy to use website. I also am convinced that I can guarantee a savings of 30 to 40% in time and money and the results can be awesoome. I'll even be the guinie pig!

I don't know if I have violated anything by writing this, but I have been wanting to present these and other ideas to a forum and this php forum is one of the ones on top of my list.

I hope I didn't overstep my boundaries!

Thanks to all of you who read and reply! If you think I am headed into an impossible area or into a new dot com success, please let me know.

God Bless you all!

The FreedomWatchdog!

chads2k2

Hey nice to see you on the board!

A few things you might want to edit.

1.) Your website address the link takes you to is wrong. You typed an unnesscary s in there and it doesn't need to be.

2.) Think your plan out a little further. Most startups such as yours die within the first couple of months of release (that is even with a large advertising budget).

3.) Consider getting a copy of Macromedia's Dreamweaver MX. It is very easy to use and a very professional program to create great websites.

Another thing you might want to try is picking up a good PHP5 book. No offense but the PHP4 books are going to be outdated soon enough. The same principles will work if you can only find PHP4 books where you live but do note there are functions that PHP is building in that need to be utilized. Another book or thing you might want to learn is colorizing and the difference between Coders, Developers, and Designers. I think everyone who reads this will agree that there are fine lines between them all. I really admire what you are doing and really dig your enthusiasm. Check your PM's and we will see if can work something out. I am by no means trying to be a cocky @SS here but I am just stating some facts that I feel would direct you in a better direction.

Thanks so much for your time and have a good one!

Chad R. Smith

Ravenous

Welcome to the wonderful world of webd evelopment, my friend!

It is my opinion that the best way to learn (X)HTML is to jump right in.. feet first. One of your most valuable tools is going to be simply vewing the source on pages you like. You can pick through the HTML and decipher how they do stuff. That is how I learned and am presently a somewhat accomplished web developer. I've even been paid to do it! 😃 Granted, my first few sites were terrible compared to my current work, but things got better. Once I got a decent handle on HTML and layout and such, I ventured into PHP which wasn't much of a stretch as I'd been programming for a few years by then (by which I'm referring to C/C++, Java, etc). So all I really needed was a function refernce and I was off and running.

There's much to learn in web development. What you'er shooting for is not easy, but it is do-able. I will say this, too: It will be very difficult to get someone to do this site pro bono.

Good luck.

chads2k2

Yeah XHTML is the first thing to learn. Rip appart sites that you like as Ravenous has said. He knows his stuff as well as a few others I have met on here. Another few good refrences I have listed below. Check them out and that will give you a good idea of how stuff works:

http://www.webmonkey.com
http://www.webstyleguide.com/
http://www.htmlgoodies.com/nontechintro/

It feels like I am forgetting one. Damn. Ravenous if you think of another that is really good for the beginning then post it up here. I can't remember it. Shoot.

Yeah your site is for sure do-able but the means and tools you have present are limited. Make them stronger and yes just like Ravenous and I, you can get paid one day too for design.

I don't design per-say anymore. I am more of a database guy that does a lot of DB Apps. Ravenous go the link below and see if you are interested. We need someone to take a HTML designed page and make it a skinnable one. Let me know!

http://sourceforge.net/projects/phpgameportal

Thanks and good luck!

Chad R. Smith

freedomwatchdog

Hello everyone!

I am extremely interested in getting with all of you and I apologize for the rush right now, but I am in a bit of a hurry at the moment.

However, I did not want to miss sending all of you a quick reply through this post letting you all know that I finally got back here!

Tonight or maybe tomorrow, I'll write again. I got a little confused finding the posts vs PM's etc... Until now, I haven't been able to read all of the replies so please forgive my incompetance!

I also apologize for the errors on my first post so I will re-work it again but I'll first learn the ropes of "phpbuilder" a bit better.

I'll get back to all of you ASAP...

Thanks and forgive my delay!

God bless you all!

George

freedomwartchdog

onion2k

Hey,

Sounds like an interesting concept for a website.. but, as ever, theres a few things to keep in mind:

You're pitching to a relatively small market. Self-building is a heck of an undertaking, and not something anyone is going to do lightly. Your market is going to be thinking that they can do this, even without the help of a site. This will make it difficult to persuade them to part with their cash.
If service providers are paying to be on the site you're going to have a difficult time persuading the users that these people are really the best ones to use. If I see an advert I don't immediately think that they're the best.
As I don't know anything about building houses I'm only guessing at this point, but I imagine the flow of work has to be very well managed in order to make sure the building work progresses properly, and it also have to be extremely flexible if things don't go to plan (if the weather is bad and building work can't be done for example). Building a flexible workflow management tool is going to be difficult..

It definately sounds like an interesting challenge. Just keep in mind that this is (or sounds to me like..) its going to be a pretty massive undertaking. Nothing a talented coder couldn't do though..